English Reference
Adverb

eastward

adv. place
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈistwɝd/ UK /ˈiːstwəd/ east·ward

adv.toward the east. You use this to describe moving or looking in the direction of the sunrise.

adv.moving, facing, or situated toward the east.


SIMPLE

The ship sailed eastward into the rising sun.

CONTEXTUAL

After crossing the mountain range, the pioneers continued eastward across the vast plains toward the coast.

COMPLEX

The storm system is expected to track eastward throughout the afternoon, bringing heavy rain to the coastal regions by nightfall.

Usage

Often functions as a directional adverb; can also be used as an adjective before a noun.

Pitfall
He walked to eastwardHe walked eastward

Directional adverbs ending in -ward do not require the preposition 'to'.

Here, a river system built a delta that protruded eastward into the seaway.

Phys.org· 26 Aug 2026

A zone of wet weather will move eastwards across England and Wales on Saturday, although drier and brighter conditions may spread from the west later.

BBC News· 26 Aug 2026

From Middle English estward, from Old English ēastweard, ēasteweard; equivalent to east + -ward.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Old English ēastweard
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated